Teething

Recognise the signs of teething and learn tips for pain relief

Date posted:
21 Aug 2017

Teething brings in a lot of excitement for you and your baby, even if it comes at a cost of few sleepless nights. When your kid is around six months old, their toothy grin starts developing as first of their milk teeth starts emerging through their gums. As more teeth starts appearing, you’ll need to be able to recognize the signs of teething – should they happen – teething issues. You’ll also need to make sure that you clean and sterilize anything your baby chews to avoid the risk of harmful germs.

Teething symptoms for your little one include:

Sore or red gums around the tooth

Flushed cheeks

They dribble, gnaw and chew a lot

They appear fretful and may have a temperature

What are the stages of Teething?

Babies usually get all their milk teeth by 30 months. Now the question is, which teeth comes out first?

Bottom front incisors – around five to seven months

Top front incisors – six to eight months

Top lateral incisors either side of top front teeth – nine to 11 months

The way some of your baby’s teeth will appear, you would call it nothing less than magic. Meanwhile, others might take a little longer and can lead to pain or discomfort. While teething, babies develop the habit of chewing on anything they can get their hands on. Good hygiene, therefore, is important. Anything with a possibility of getting into your baby’s mouth should be washed and sterilized to stop harmful germs from entering their body.

There are many others ways through which you can put a smile back on your little treasure’s face:

Gift your little one a teething ring to chew on. You can get them chilled in the fridge as it would help soothe your baby’s gums. Always keep them clean and sterilized as you would with feeding bottles and teats.

Rub their gums with sugar-free teething gel.

Make them chew on something healthy such as fruit or vegetables.

Give them a cool sugar-free drink, like water.

At this age, your child would put their hands in their mouth all the time, so ensure that you regularly wash their hands with soap that is baby friendly.

We suggest that you consult your GP or pharmacist before giving your baby painkillers or teething gel.

How should I take care of my baby’s first teeth?

Start with cleaning their teeth twice a day. This will help in keeping your baby’s teeth and gums healthy. Here’s how:

Ensure that your hands are clean before cleaning your baby’s teeth.

Get your baby on your lap and softly cradle the chin with one hand.

Use a toothbrush that is small with soft bristles or use a clean piece of gauze wrapped around your finger.

Brush your baby’s teeth in small circles emphasizing on all the surfaces and teach your child to spit the toothpaste out afterwards. It has been observed that rinsing with water reduces the benefit of fluoride.